Book holder

ABSTRACT

A book support includes a horizontal tension member and a compression member and has a hinged connection between the two about which they can pivot between a collapsed position wherein one overlies the other and an extended position wherein the later is generally upright and at an angle to the former. A second tension member is connected to both of the already mentioned members and is arranged to be extended in a taut condition between the two when they are pivoted to the extended position. The horizontal tension member has an end extending beyond the point of connection of the second tension member thereto, this end has a non-skid surface for engaging a book edge as the book is rested against the compression member.

United States Patent 1 Hainault 1 Feb. 27, 1973 BOOK HOLDER [75]Inventor: Paul E. Hainault, Houghton, Mich.

[22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 72,596

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1915 Daly ..248/45512/1940 Harris ..2l l/42 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 688,709 3/1953Great Britain ..21 1/42 Primary ExaminerWi1liam H. Schultz AttorneyJohnW. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard 11. Michael, Paul R. Puemer, JosephA. Gemignani, Andrew 0. Riteris and Spencer B. Michael [57] ABSTRACT Abook support includes a horizontal tension member and a compressionmember and has a hinged connection between the two about which they canpivot between a collapsed position wherein one overlies the other and anextended position wherein the later is generally upright and at an angleto the former. A second tension member is connected to both of thealready mentioned members and is arranged to be extended in a tautcondition between the two when they are pivoted to the extendedposition. The horizontal tension member has an end extending beyond thepoint of connection of the second tension member thereto, this end has anon-skid surface for engaging a book edge as the book is rested againstthe compression member.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BOOK HOLDER This invention relates to booksupports such as book ends, book holders, and the like.

Among the general objects of this invention are to provide a booksupport which is relatively simple in construction, and economical toproduce and yet is effective in function; and, moreover, is capable offunctioning, with equal facility, as a book end or book support.

For the acheivement of these and other objects, this invention proposesan arrangement wherein first and second generally planar members areconnected for relative movement to an extended position wherein onemember is upright and at an angle to the other when the later ishorizontal. A third member is connected between the two alreadymentioned so that when those two are in the extended position the thirdis generally upright and extends between the two thereby limitingfurther extending movement therebetween.

The member which is adapted to assume the horizontal position in theextended position can also include an end extending beyond the point ofengagement by the third member. A book can then engage that end as itrests against the generally upright planar member. In this connection,the end extending beyond the third member can also be provided with anupper non-skid surface to facilitate supporting a book or books.

In accordance with more specific aspects of this invention, the booksupport elements are also constructed and arranged to permit overlappinga pair of supports, and, in addition, to permit the support to befabricated as a one piece member.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparentfrom, the description and claims, as will obvious modifications ofembodiments shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a booksupport embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative construction;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another alternative construction;

FIG. 6 is a perspective of yet another alternative construction;

FIG. 7 is a developed plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates two supports functioning as book ends; and

FIG. 9 illustrates one support functioning as a book holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to thedrawings, book support 10 constructed in accordance with this inventionincludes a first member 12, which may be referred to as a horizontaltension member, and a second member 14 which may be referred to as agenerally upright compression member. Members 12 and 14 are connected at16 by any suitable means capable of providing a hinge about whichmembers 12 and 14 can pivot, or move angularly, with respect to eachother. For example, members 12 and 14 can be made in one piece and 16can be a fold line or a pin-type hinge can be provided between twoseparate members. The type of hinge connection will be dictated at leastin part by the material from which members 12 and 14 are made. In thisregard, the members can be made of any thin sheet type material havingsome stiffness. For example, they can be made of cardboard, corrugatedpaper box board or made of metal, wood, or plastic, as desired. The samematerial would preferably be used for both members 12 and 14.

With the hinge connection, member 14 can be pivoted between a first orcollapsed position wherein it overlies and is generally parallel tomember 12 and an extended position wherein it is generally upright anddisposed at an angle to member 12. The later position is illustrated inFIGS. '1 and 2. A tension member 18 is connected to both members 12 and14. This tension member extends between the horizontal tension memberand the generally upright compression member and serves to limit angularmovement of member 14 away from member 12. In the illustratedembodiment, tension member 18 extends to an area 20 adjacent the end ofmember 14. Member 14 has an end 22 extending beyond that point ofconnection and having a hinge connection 24 with the remainder of member14. More specifically and as is evident from FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 and 5,of the drawings, the point of connection of tension member 18 to member12 is located to the left of a plane A-A, plane A-A being a planeperpendicular to member 12 and passing through end 22 of member 14. Asillustrated, this condition obtains when the members 12 and 14 arepivoted apart and tension member 18 is fully extended. In other words,the point of connection of the tension member to member 12 is located inthe area between the hinge connected ends of members 12 and 14 and planeA-A thereby leaving the area to the right of plane A-A in FIG. 2 (andsimilarly to the right of plane A'-A in FIGS. 4 and 5 and like planes inthe other embodiments illustrated and discussed) open and unobstructedso that the book support can function both as a book end as illustratedin FIG. 8 and as a book rest as illustrated in FIG. 9. Again, the hingeconnection can take any suitable form, such as a fold line, dependingupon the material used.

Tension member 18 is illustrated as a flexible light weight cord, it canalso be a chain, or made of cloth, paper, or sheet material similar tothe material of members l2 and 14. In this regard, an embodiment to bediscussed hereinafter will show this tension member as being of the samematerial as the members 12 and 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2 and 3, the generally horizontaltension member 12 has a bifurcated end consisting of two legs 26 and 28divided by an opening 30. Opening 30.is generally in alignment withtension member 18 and, for reasons which will appear from the followingdiscussion, has a width which is greater than the tension member.

In operation, a book can be placed on the legs 26 and 28 of member 12and rested against the upper end of compression member 14. With thetension member 18 preventing further angular movement of member 14 awayfrom member 12, the book is supported against that upper edge. The bookmay be supported in an upright closed position wherein the book supportfunctions in a nature of a book end as illustrated in FIG. 8 or can besupported in an open position such as illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein thearrangement functions as a book holder.

It is also desirable that the upper surfaces of legs 26 and 28 beskid-resistant to better hold the books in place, whether functioning asa book end or a book holder. Any suitable non-skid material can beprovided and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper surface of legs26 and 28 is provided with a generally undulating surface. The troughsof the corrugated surface extend at right angles to the legs of thebifurcated end of member 12 or generally parallel to the upper end ofmember 14. For example, where cardboard or paper box material is used inthe book support, the undulating surface can be provided by thecorrugated filler with one of the outer surfaces having been removed toexpose that corrugated filler. With this arrangement, the edge of abook, either closed or opened as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, can beengaged in the trough or troughs of the non-skid surface to assist insupporting the book.

In order to facilitate functioning as a book end, a pair of cut-outareas 32 and 34 are provided at the hinge connection 16. These areas arein alignment with legs 26 and 28 and are of a width equal to or greaterthan the legs. With this arrangement, the legs of one such book supportcan extend through the notches of the other book support if necessary.This is perhaps best illustrated in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7, but can also be realized with the other embodiments andfor that reason the notches have been shown in all embodiments.

In operation the weight of the book whether the support is used as abook end or a book holder, is applied to legs 26 and 28 of thehorizontal tension member 12. Thus the weight of the book tends to holdthe book support in place whereas the combination of the tension member18, the horizontal tension member, and the generally upright compressionmember tend to hold the book upright. This arrangement is relativelysimple and is readily fabricated and yet is extremely effective.

If desired, a light torsion spring 36 can be positioned at hinge 16 andengaged between members 12 and 14 to provide a biasing force tending toseparate members 12 and 14, i.e. urging them toward the extendedposition.

FIGS. 4 and illustrate alternative constructions of the book supportembodying this invention. Like elements in FIGS. 4 and 5 have been giventhe same numbers as in FIGS. 1-3 to better correlate the embodiments. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the flexible tension number 18 has beenreplaced by a rigid tension member, 38 in FIG. 4 and 40 in FIG. 5. Withreference to FIG. 4, the rigid tension member has a fixed connection atpoint 42 on member 12 and passes through a ring 44 attached to the upperedge of member 14. It will be noted at this point that the pivotal end22 of member 14 has been eliminated in both the embodiments of FIGS. 4and 5. Rigid tension member 38 can be a wire member and with thisarrangement it pivots about a hinge connection at 42 and can slidefreely in ring 44 to permit member 14 to move angularly with respect tomember 12. When member 14 is in its extended position, i.e. the ringbeing engaged at hook end 46 of wire 38, a book can be supported on theouter end of member 12 and rest against the upper end of member 14 inthe same manner as discussed in connection with the embodiment of FIGS.1-3. The wire ten- V sion member prevents further movement of member 14in an extending direction, i.e. away from member 12.

In FIG. 5, rigid member 40, again a wire member, has a hinge connection48 to the upper end of member 14 and extends through a hole 50 in member12. The lower end of wire 40 is provided with a hook portion 52. Withthis arrangement the wire member 40 pivots about hinge connection 48 asmember 15 is moved angularly away from member 12 and slides freely inhole 50 until hook 52 engages the underside of member 12. In thisposition a book can be supported on member 12 and against member 14.

It will also be appreciated that rigid members 38 and 40 can be stripmaterial (metal, plastic, wood, etc.) in addition to wire.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate yet another embodiment of this invention. Inthis embodiment, the book support is fabricated in one piece. The onepiece member is shown in developed form in FIG. 7. This type ofconstruction lends itself well to use wherein the material of the bookend or book holder is to be corrugated paper box board or other similarmaterial such as light metal. In this embodiment, a horizontal tensionmember portion 60 is connected by a fold line 62 to a compression member64. A vertical tension member 66 is in turn connected to compressionmember 64 at a fold line 68. To form the book support, a fold is madealong line 62 placing compression member 64 in a generally uprightposition with respect to tension member 60. A fold is then made alongline 68 turning tension member 66 down into engagement with horizontaltension member 60. Vertical tension member 66 can then be fixedlyattached to the horizontal tension member to complete the configurationillustrated in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, as in the previousembodiments, member 60 has a bifurcated end providing legs 70 and 72having a space 74 therebetween. The width of space 74 is equal to orgreater than the width of tension member 66 and the hinge at fold line62. Notches 76 and 78 are provided at fold line 62 in alignment with andhaving a width equal to or greater than the width of legs 70 and 72.This is to permit two such book ends to overlap as illustrated in FIG. 8and in addition to allow legs 70 and 72 to extend beyond member 64 ofthe opposing book end. Again, legs 70 and 72 are provided with non-skidmaterial 80 and 82 as in the other embodiments.

In the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the booksupports function in the same manner, as discussed in connection withthe embodiments of FIGS. 1-3. The weight of the book rests on the legsof horizontal tension member 12, or 60, and that assists in maintainingthe book supports in position. The vertical tension member limitsmovement of the compression member in the extending direction, i.e.angularly away from member 12 or 60, so that a book can rest against theupper edge of the compression when being supported.

The construction and arrangement of the overall book support isrelatively simple and can be fabricated from a variety of materials. Itcan be made of relatively substantial materials such as metal, wood,plastic, or the like, or can be fabricated of relatively inexpensivematerials, such as, paper board, corrugated paper, etc. These alsoafford the advantage that the book supports can be used as a promotionalitem with the upright compression member providing a rather substantialarea to carry any suitable indicia which might be related to a givenpromotion, advertising, or the like.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim: 1. A book support comprising, in combination, a first generallyplanar member, a second generally planar member, means connectingadjacent ends of said first and second planar members for relativemovement of said first and second members to an extended positionwherein said first member is generally upright at an angle to saidsecond member and terminates in an end above said second member whensaid second member is horizontal, a third member, and means connectingsaid third member to said first and second members with the connectionof said third member to said second member, when said first, second, andthird members are extended and said second member is horizontal, beinglocated in an area between said connected adjacent ends and a planegenerally perpendicular to said second member and including said end ofsaid third member so that said third member limits further relativemovement of said first and second members in the extending direction andsaid book support can function as a bookend. 2. A book supportcomprising, in combination, a first member, a second member, meansforming a hinge connection between said first and second members aboutwhich said members can be pivoted to an extended position wherein saidmembers are disposed at an angle to each other so that said first memberis generally upright and terminates in an end above said second memberwhen said second member is horizontal, and a third member connected toeach of said first and second members at areas spaced on each from saidhinge connection, the area of connection of said third member to saidsecond member located, when said first and second members are pivoted tosaid extended position and said third member is extended and said secondmember is horizontal, in an area between said hinge connection and aplane generally perpendicular to said second member and passing throughsaid end of said first member so that said third member limits furtherpivotal movement in the extending direction and said book support canfunction as a bookend.

3. The book support of claim 2 wherein said first and second members arepivoted between said extended position and a collapsed position whereinone overlies the other.

4. The book support of claim 3 said third member comprises a flexiblemember characterized by being collapsible when said first and secondmembers are in said collapsed position and being extended to a tautcondition when said first and second members are pivoted to saidextended position.

5. The book support of claim 2 wherein said third member is a relativelyrigid member.

6. The book support of claim 4 wherein said rigid member has a hingedconnection to one of said first and second members and a slidingengagement with the other.

7. The book support of claim 2 wherein said second member includes anend portion extending beyond the area of engagement of said third memberwith said second member and away from the hinge connection between saidfirst and second members.

8. The book support of claim 7 including means defining a non-skidsurface on said end portions facing, upwardly for engagement with a bookedge when said first and second members are in said extended position.

9. The book support of claim 8 wherein said non-skid surface definingmeans defines an undulating in crosssection surface.

10. The book support of claim 7 wherein said end portion is bifurcatedhaving outwardly extending spaced legs,

including means defining a pair of notches in the hinge connectionbetween said first and second members in alignment with said legs,

and the space between said legs being in alignment with and wider thansaid third member.

11. The book support of claim 10 wherein said support is a one piecemember and in a developed position includes said first member and thesaid bifurcated end portion thereof at one end, said third memberextending from the other end thereof and oppositely relative to saidbifurcated end portion, said second member being positioned between saidfirst member and third member and having a fold line connection withboth said first and third members, and said notches being generally atthe fold line in alignment with said legs.

12. The book support of claim 7 said third member comprises a flexiblemember characterized by being collapsible when said first and secondmembers are in said collapsed position and being extended to a tautcondition when said first and second members are pivoted to saidextended position.

13. The book support of claim 12 including means defining an undulatingin transverse cross-section surface facing upwardly when said first andsecond members are in said extended position.

14. The book support of claim 7 wherein said third member is arelatively rigid member.

15. The book support of claim 14 including means defining an undulatingin transverse cross-section surface facing upwardly when said first andsecond members are in said extended position.

1. A book support comprising, in combination, a first generally planarmember, a second generally planar member, means connecting adjacent endsof said first and second planar members for relative movement of saidfirst and second members to an extended position wherein said firstmember is generally upright at an angle to said second member andterminates in an end above said second member when said second member ishorizontal, a third member, and means connecting said third member tosaid first and second members with the connection of said third memberto said second member, when said first, second, and third members areextended and said second member is horizontal, being located in an areabetween said connected adjacent ends and a plane generally perpendicularto said second member and including said end of said third member sothat said third member limits further relative movement of said firstand second members in the extending direcTion and said book support canfunction as a bookend.
 2. A book support comprising, in combination, afirst member, a second member, means forming a hinge connection betweensaid first and second members about which said members can be pivoted toan extended position wherein said members are disposed at an angle toeach other so that said first member is generally upright and terminatesin an end above said second member when said second member ishorizontal, and a third member connected to each of said first andsecond members at areas spaced on each from said hinge connection, thearea of connection of said third member to said second member located,when said first and second members are pivoted to said extended positionand said third member is extended and said second member is horizontal,in an area between said hinge connection and a plane generallyperpendicular to said second member and passing through said end of saidfirst member so that said third member limits further pivotal movementin the extending direction and said book support can function as abookend.
 3. The book support of claim 2 wherein said first and secondmembers are pivoted between said extended position and a collapsedposition wherein one overlies the other.
 4. The book support of claim 3said third member comprises a flexible member characterized by beingcollapsible when said first and second members are in said collapsedposition and being extended to a taut condition when said first andsecond members are pivoted to said extended position.
 5. The booksupport of claim 2 wherein said third member is a relatively rigidmember.
 6. The book support of claim 4 wherein said rigid member has ahinged connection to one of said first and second members and a slidingengagement with the other.
 7. The book support of claim 2 wherein saidsecond member includes an end portion extending beyond the area ofengagement of said third member with said second member and away fromthe hinge connection between said first and second members.
 8. The booksupport of claim 7 including means defining a non-skid surface on saidend portions facing, upwardly for engagement with a book edge when saidfirst and second members are in said extended position.
 9. The booksupport of claim 8 wherein said non-skid surface defining means definesan undulating in cross-section surface.
 10. The book support of claim 7wherein said end portion is bifurcated having outwardly extending spacedlegs, including means defining a pair of notches in the hinge connectionbetween said first and second members in alignment with said legs, andthe space between said legs being in alignment with and wider than saidthird member.
 11. The book support of claim 10 wherein said support is aone piece member and in a developed position includes said first memberand the said bifurcated end portion thereof at one end, said thirdmember extending from the other end thereof and oppositely relative tosaid bifurcated end portion, said second member being positioned betweensaid first member and third member and having a fold line connectionwith both said first and third members, and said notches being generallyat the fold line in alignment with said legs.
 12. The book support ofclaim 7 said third member comprises a flexible member characterized bybeing collapsible when said first and second members are in saidcollapsed position and being extended to a taut condition when saidfirst and second members are pivoted to said extended position.
 13. Thebook support of claim 12 including means defining an undulating intransverse cross-section surface facing upwardly when said first andsecond members are in said extended position.
 14. The book support ofclaim 7 wherein said third member is a relatively rigid member.
 15. Thebook support of claim 14 including means defining an undulating intransverse cross-section surface facing upwardly when said first andsecond Members are in said extended position.